July 27, 2020 Dear Menlo Park City Council. I am writing to support the proposal by Pam Evans to contract out management of MP Gymnastics. I recently retired from teaching in MP Gymnastics after about 20+ years of helping to grow the program under 5 different gymnastics supervisors. For the last 2-3 years of retirement I have taught 1 day a week at Pam’s GS gym. ( Presently I am on a leave of absence because of Covid.) That experience has allowed me to observe her abilities, attitudes, and actions in different ways. I can unequivocally say that any program she operates would be stellar. I would like to highlight 4 main qualities she has always exhibited and impressed me with. 1. Fun - Pam’s first concern is always with the welfare of all the kids in her program, from tots to team. One of her constant themes and messages to staff was always for us to make the time spent in each class the highlight of a student’s week. She was truly concerned about their safety and fun in their time with us. Safety- Like all good gyms this has always been a top priority at GS Gym, even before the virus closed it down for a few months. Pam and her staff have gone to considerable time and expense to open a smaller program that operates within the restraints of safety for all participants. After 2 months of teaching camps per the guidelines, she is now able to slowly begin adding classes. This is an incredible achievement. 2. Style of Management - Of the 5 gymnastics supervisors I have worked for in my career, Pam’ s management style really stands out. She has very clear expectations for her program and the staff she hires to run it. She communicates her objectives clearly to staff; institutes a chain of command; and enables staff to deal with problems in their particular area of responsibility. If any manager is unable to deal with a situation, Pam will step in and deal with said situation. I have seen how this chain of command has resulted in a smooth operation and loyalty of staff to her. Such loyalty makes for a smooth running program for kids, parents, and staff. She works with each individual’s strengths to contribute to the overall welfare of the kids and the whole program. 4. Teacher Training- My experience at GS was the availability of many opportunities to learn best practices in teaching kids gymnastics in a safe and fun atmosphere. Teacher training was ongoing throughout the year. The atmosphere there encourages teachers to ask questions. Answered questions lead to better teaching experiences for program participants. I would encourage MP representatives to visit GS Gym in Sunnyvale and experience its atmosphere. Our MP gymnastics building is a jewel in the gymnastics community. When it first opened every gym owner in the area visited and was impressed by it. It has saddened me to see how such a beautiful gym has been so underutilized in the last few years. I can assure your that if Pam Evans operates the gym, it is just a matter of time before the the MP community will be able to utilize its full potential. Sincerely, Cedy Fisher 511 Pope St. Menlo Park Ca. 94025 Received on Sun Jul 26 2020 - 18:26:54 PDT
